Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-02-24
Death of an Old Citizen.

Our fellow townsman, William Chester
Slemons, died at his home on Tuesday
afternoon, Feb. ed, 1887. He was born
in Washington county, nine miles south
Of Jonesboro, July 10Th, 1915; and was
seventy -one years, seven months and sew
en- days old at the time of his death. He
was one of a family of eleven children,
the son Of William and Elizabeth Slemons,
who immigrated to this county from
Pennsylvania.
HUSBAND AND FATHER.
In 1916 he was united In marriage to
Miss Maria Dosser, who, with five SOM
and two daughters, still lives to mourn
his death. 1t is remarkable that during
the forty.two years Of Mr.. Slemon's mar
ried life there has not been q death In his
family till now. He endeared himself to
his wife and oil his children, and his ex.
ample is regarded by them as a most
precious heirloom.
Four Of his children with tenderest
flial love were present during his last
sickness and did all in their power to
soften his dying pillow. The others, one
in California, one in Montana and one in
Florida, necessarily prevented from be-
ing present, wept tears of sympathy in
their distant homes and waited In anxious
solicitude for messages from their fathers
dying bed.
For thirty five years Mr.. Slemons has
been a citizen of Jonesboro, and perhaps
no man had more friends and we'll
wishers. He was q man OF very even
temper, so thath he did not arouse antagon.
isms; yet, he was a man who stood up
persistently for what he thought was
right. He was a man of ~strictest homes
ty and integrity, and hence of weight and
influence. Most assuredly. in the death
of Mr.. Slemons, Jonesboro loses one of
her best citizens.
CHRISTIAN.
His religious character was one Of the
very best. He professed religion at
the Salem church, w~ssniasfnn College,
ffty-two years ago, under the preaching
of a Rev. Mr.. Baker, and Joined the
church at that place. He told the writer
q week or more before his death that the
Lord had been very good to him in sus-
tanning and keeping him during all these
years. Soon after removing to Jonesboro
in 1862. he Joined the Presbyterian
church here. For . number Of years he
was q deacon, and for the last twenty
years has been q ruling elder, ever faith.
full and conscientious in the performance
of his duties both as a private member
and as an officer. He was a Bible student
Of more than ordinary depth and thor
oughness, studying 1t diligently at home
and giving the most thoughtful attention
at church. He had a happy way of
speaking en~couragingly to the minister
when he thought he made a good point
in a sermon, telling him how much he
appreciated It.
He carefully prepared the Sabbath
school lesson and engaged in the work of
the Sabbath school with o very relish and
delight. He himself conducted the last
prayer-meeting he ever attended. Being
very feeble and knowing that the fatal
disease was rapidly destroying his
strength, his heart was tender, and he
most feelingly testified how precious the
prayer meetings had been to him. The
last time the writer remembers to have
seen him away from his home was a,
church, six weeks ago last Sabbath. His
love for Gods house and worship was
manifest to the very last. He was "faith.
full unto death" and we are assured that
he now wears a Grown Of life." John
IA: 1-3. ID.
Jonesboro, Feb. 90. 1887.